16 



quest, an expert negro to go into the interior, 

 to collect land and fresh-water shells. The 

 man was absent about a week, and collected a 

 box full of Helices, commonly termed Snail- 

 shells, and muscles : these were packed with 

 refuse cotton, and the whole expense did not 

 exceed six dollars. I cannot too strongly re- 

 commend the hiring of fishermen or clever ne- 

 groes, (who should be liberally remunerated), 

 to collect as well as to pack ; and thus free 

 their employers from any trouble. 



THE land shells and muscles which may be 

 found over the whole of the vast territories of 

 Essequibo, Surinam, and Cayenne, are very 

 desirable. I would amply repay any one for 

 what he might bring from the interior of those 

 countries : the rivers, lakes, &c, are extreme- 

 ly productive. 



OF the shells from the Amazons, the great 



